Encouragement for your walk with Christ

Life Lessons From an Arrow

This blog post is written by Debbie Brown. I love what she says, and I invited her to share it with you. Debbie is an active singer and speaker at women’s events, and in her spare time, she teaches elementary school music. Perhaps her greatest feat, though, is this: she is my sister. So there.

Have you noticed that everything these days seems to have an arrow on it?

The arrow has been showing up in all kinds of decorating over recent years. Just check out Pinterest or walk through your favorite store. I became intrigued, wondering if I had missed something on TV or a movie that had spurred this apparent love for the arrow.

Of course, the arrow has been around for millennia. Hunters have used the bow and arrow to hunt for food. Arrows have been used in battle. So, my first thought was negative. Why would I want to decorate with something used in killing? Since inquiring minds want to know, I googled it.

We have arrows in advertising.

We have arrows in directions.

The Boy Scouts of America have arrows.

Arrows are even popular in tattoos. (Don’t worry, Mom,. I’m not getting a tattoo.) But it was a description of a tattoo that pointed to the positive side of arrows.

An arrow tattoo carries the message of always moving forward.

This reminded me of what Paul wrote:

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Moving forward. We like that image, but moving forward is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it can wrapped in a challenge or two. But that’s OK. Consider this:

I’ve changed my mind about the arrow. I now see it’s good point. (My brother inserted that bad pun.)

But then I noticed how many arrow messages were something like “Follow Your Dreams” or “Follow Your Heart. ” Those messages seem so self-centered. Dreams are great. And our hearts may intend to be good, but they are fickle. I don’t want to follow my dreams. I want to follow the One who guides me as I pursue those dreams. That’s why I like these arrow-infused messages better:

I prefer the arrow that points me to the Lord and to following Him! He always shoots straight as an arrow!

Maybe I will start decorating with arrows! Just not with a tattoo.

Shoot an arrow to one of the links below and share this thought with others.